Speaker Pema Jungney delivering the statement of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile on the 29th anniversary of conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 10 December 2018. TPI/Tenzin Dhargyal

President Dr Lobsang Sangay with guests during the 29th Anniversary of Conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, in Dharamshala, India, on December 10, 2018. Photo: TPI/Tenzin Dhargyal

President Dr Lobsang Sangay delivering the statement of Kashag on the 29th Anniversary of Conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, December 10, 2018. Photo: CTA/DIIR

Representative Tashi Phuntsok at the Breakfast discussion on Tibet with Deputy Tutu Picard, President of Tibet Group in the French National Assembly, Senator Andre Gattolin, Vice President of Tibet Group in the French Senate, Deputy Michele de Vancouleur, Deputy Florence Grenjus and Ms Katia Buffetrille, 5 December 2018. Photo/Bureau du Tibet

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Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam who started the DIFF speaking at Upper TCV School in Dharamshala, India. The festival ended with the closing night screening of Aijaz Khan's 'Hamid' at the Hermann Gmeiner Auditorium. photo: TPI

President Dr Lobsang Sangay with the Thank You India Souvenir – A Dharmachakra representing the wheel of Universal Truth, at the press conference at Press Club of India on January 18, 2018. Photo: CTA/DIIR/Tenzin Phende

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His Holiness holding a portrait presented to him by a student before his talk on compassion at Guru Nanak College of Arts, Science & Commerce in Mumbai, India on December 13, 2018. Photo: Lobsang Tsering

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting Indian high school students and their teachers as he arrives for their meeting at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on October 30, 2018. Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel

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China yesterday accused His Holiness the Dalai Lama of seeking to undermine Beijing's relationship with Delhi through his forthcoming visit to the disputed border state of Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India.

Speaking at a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu repeated earlier criticism of the his Holiness for "separatist" activities. "The Dalai Lama often lies and often engages in acts to sabotage China's relations with other countries," he said. "I am confident that his scheme to wreck China's relations with the relevant country will come to nothing."

His Holiness is due to begin his visit to Arunachal Pradesh on November 8. China claims about 90,000 square kilometers of the state as part of its own territory, viewing it as "southern Tibet".

The Indian media has widely interpreted Mr Ma's attack on His Holiness as a means of turning the spotlight away from current tensions between Beijing and Delhi over the border dispute and visa issues. Delhi recently cut back on business visas to curb the flow of unskilled labour into India, much of it Chinese.

Rejecting Beijing's objections to the Tibetan leader's visit to Arunachal, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said last week that His Holiness is "an honoured guest" of India, adding that, "We do not allow Tibetan refugees to indulge in political activities."

Later, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters, "There is no strain in bilateral ties," and commented that the resolution of outstanding issues like the border dispute would take some time and entail greater political will on the part of both countries.